[CeCe55]

I have recently started taking Hydrochlorthiazide(25mg) for high blood pressure.
Would like to know if anyone has taken this medication, and if it made their PN symptoms worse. Any information would be much appreciated-Thanks, CeCe.

[Kitt]

Here is a site for it with possible side effects. Click on:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydrochloro...e-effects.html

[Stacy2012]

I take it.

I have been on it for about 4 or 5 years...before I got PN. I have no idea if it caused my PN, some do say it can. It does have long term side effects that I worry about, which is why I am weaning off it and currently take it 3 x a week now. Short term was no problem. I take potassium, if I don't my muscles hurt.

My goal is to get off it, but there are way worse BP drugs than this one. I consider this one mild compared to others. It tried several others but couldn't handle side effects.

[Hopeless]

Originally Posted by CeCe55

I have recently started taking Hydrochlorthiazide(25mg) for high blood pressure.
Would like to know if anyone has taken this medication, and if it made their PN symptoms worse. Any information would be much appreciated-Thanks, CeCe.

This is a "fluid" pill to reduce excess fluid in the body and will lower blood pressure by lowering the excess fluid. You will need to be careful that your potassium level does not get depleated. Foods rich in potassium like bananas and orange juice are good sources. Also be careful you do not dehydrate. If you begin having muscle cramps in your feet or legs, be sure to tell your doctor. This could be evidence of dehydration and your dosage may need to be adjusted or your medicine changed.

As far as affecting your PN, I do not think it should unless you have adverse actions such as dehydration and low levels of potassium. Everyone is different and there is always the possibility that other effects are possible.

This type of medication is very commonly prescribed as a first step in the control of blood pressure. It is also used in adjunct with other BP meds. It can also be prescribed without an elevated BP for edema.

Just my opinion.

[Stacy2012]

I have long suspected this drug CAN cause PN.

Information is hard to find but if you look there are more and more people posing the question that it DOES cause PN. There is no proof. Even the above link posted, I went and read ALL the questions/reviews (followed another link in it) and one person out of 40 asked the question does it cause neuropathy.

A listed/talked about side affect is burning, tingling, etc.

More and more I do believe it may have caused my PN. I am not fully off this drug yet so I don't know if it can/will go away once/if I do. I doubt it.

I am starting another decrease in it next week, I will split the pill in half to make it 12.5 mg three x a week.

If I could lose anothe 25 or 30 pounds I think I could keep my bp under control without meds. Difficult task, one I pray I can accomplish.

[CeCe55]

Thanks for all your quick replies, much appreciated. I will also be sure to stay well hydrated and be on the watch for signs of low potassium levels.

I checked out the site also, such a daunting list of possible affects.

I am also trying to lower my bp by losing some weight. I feel that this is a much better option.

So sorry to hear that this drug may have caused your PN Stacy2012. I am also splitting my dose in half for the time being. So I will see how things go at my next check-up!

CeCe.

[ElaineD]

You are on a low dose of a diuretic.

Check it out at Drug.com

http://www.drugs.com/pro/hydrochlorothiazide.html

It is unlikely that is causes PN.

I take potassium, although I am on a potassium sparing formulation:

Triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide

Hugs, Elaine

[mrsD]

HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) is on the list of drugs that may cause drug induced lupus.

There are many papers on PubMed mentioning it, but most don't have an abstract.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20693204

Lupus. 2010 Aug;19(9):1107-11. doi: 10.1177/0961203310370349.
Drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Callen JP.
Author information
Abstract

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a subset of cutaneous lupus erythematosus with unique immunologic and clinical features. The first description dates back to 1985 when a series of five patients were found to have hydrochlorothiazide-induced SCLE. Since that time, at least 40 other drugs have been implicated in the induction of SCLE.

PMID:
20693204
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

It is also listed on this Medscape article in a list of drugs that will flare lupus:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/articl...#aw2aab6b2b3aa

This is a list of other adverse effects from HCTZ:
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5310...l&pagenumber=6